Nicole stood momentarily stunned, then erupted in a barrage of curses. "You bitch! Are you colluding with Adrian? Tell him to answer the phone!

"I simply went to meet another man, yet he acts so petty and convinces you to lie to me!"

She yelled into the phone, "Tell him to return immediately and handle those reporters, or we will get a divorce!"

Since Owen's return, she had frequently mentioned divorce. Perhaps she truly desired to leave.

After five years of marriage, was I really no more than a stranger to her?

Mia, overwhelmed by Nicole's reaction, choked, "It's true, Ms. Adams. I didn't lie..."

"Cut the crap and tell Adrian to come back!" Nicole abruptly hung up before Mia could respond, turning to complain to Owen, "What's wrong with your employee? She colluded with Adrian to deceive me and said he was dead.

"How ridiculous! How could he suddenly die?"

Owen appeared unconcerned, lost in his thoughts.

Observing this, Nicole grew dissatisfied and shook his shoulder. "Owen, are you listening to me?"

Owen snapped back to attention and nonchalantly smiled. "If you don't like her, I'll just fire her."

Nicole's smile grew wider, and she asked. "Then why did you open this store after returning? Is it because I like playing escape room games?"

Owen lowered his gaze, concealing his emotions as he responded, "Maybe."

At that moment, I looked at his somewhat gloomy expression and the faint needle marks on his arms, and all my suspicions seemed to be confirmed.

I first encountered Owen at an auction. He had recently returned home, but it was evident that he was trying to get close to me.

Upon investigation, I discovered his involvement in smuggling contraband abroad. It seemed that his return was an attempt to expand his operations into the local market.

At the time, I believed he and Nicole were merely classmates, so I kindly warned her, "Be careful with Owen. My sources have uncovered his ties to contraband."

Unexpectedly, my remark ignited Nicole's fury.

She slapped me and cursed angrily, "Adrian, stop being so petty! I simply grew closer to him, and you slandered him by mentioning contraband.

"You are just jealous of him! That's why you purposely defame him. You truly disgust me."

That slap shattered my good intentions, leaving me no choice but to bury the matter deep within my heart.

Nicole's curiosity persisted, questioning Owen. This quickly wore down his patience, causing him to retort, "Why do you talk so much? You could use this time to ask your husband for more money.

"I'm gonna go. Don't bother looking for me unless there's something important."

With those words, he turned and left, ignoring Nicole's pale face.

It appeared that Owen still harbored resentment for being abandoned.

After Owen left, Nicole pounded the blanket in frustration. She then took her phone and made a call, but the other party never answered.

Nicole muttered, "Fine, Adrian, you got the nerve now and even didn't answer my call!

"I gave you a chance, so don't blame me for taking all your money."

Having said that, she angrily threw her phone onto the bed and went to freshen up.

Looking at her from behind, I could only offer a bitter smile. How could I possibly answer her call when I was already dead?

Actually, back then, I was aware of the existence of the System.

When I first met Nicole, who was still a newcomer in the company seven years ago, I already knew about the existence of the System.

I was aware that she deliberately approached me and tried to win my favor.

But what could I do? How could I give up when I fell in love with her at first sight, even though she didn't love me?

After we obtained our marriage license and she revealed the truth, she never smiled at me again.

Every night during these past five years of our marriage, I had questioned whether I had made the wrong decision.

Reflecting upon it now, it seemed that I truly had made a mistake.

Nicole slept throughout the day and was only roused by a phone call at one o'clock in the evening. She rose from bed and dressed herself.

At that moment, the nanny, Lola, cautiously entered and asked, "Mrs. Deleon, Mr. Deleon left his medication at home. Should you ask him about it?"

Without raising her head, Nicole replied dismissively, "No need. He won't die. It's just a heart condition. No big deal."

She then glanced at Lola, her tone laced with a threat. "Don't think I'm unaware of your plan. If you dare to breathe a word about what you saw this morning to him, you know the consequences!"

I watched Lola shrink back and quietly retreat.

Lola had been the student I had sponsored, and after graduation, she insisted on becoming a nanny in my house despite my attempts to dissuade her.

"Mr. Deleon, this is my wish. I hope you can respect it," said Lola.

I had no choice but to let her work as a nanny for several years. However, her life had become difficult since I married Nicole.

Just like now, Nicole, consumed by anger, approached Lola and pinched her arm with sharp nails, accusing her, "I know you have feelings for Adrian! Let me remind you, within this family, I am the only one who can be Mrs. Deleon!

"As for you, a mere nanny, don't even think about it!"

Tears welled up in Lola's eyes as she walked away, covering her reddened arm. I silently sighed.

Nicole swiftly dressed herself and prepared to go out.

A luxury car was parked at the door, and it was Owen who had come to pick her up.

Surprised, Nicole exclaimed, "Owen, did you buy this new car?" Owen smiled proudly and replied, "Yes, I bought it with the money you gave me."

Nicole's face froze momentarily. "But didn't you say you needed the money for your business? So, I gave it to you. Why did you buy a car first..."

Owen's expression darkened, and he retorted, "Do you regret it? If so, go find your husband!

"You've taken so much money from Adrian, and now you're pretending."

Pale, then flushed, Nicole struggled to hold back her tears. She took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Don't be upset, Owen. All of my money is yours."

Suddenly, Nicole noticed something and furrowed her brows, observing Owen's arm. She asked, "Are you sick? Why do you have so many needle marks on your arm? Let me see."

Owen quickly covered his arm and impatiently pulled it away. "What does that have to do with you? Are we leaving or not?"

Noticing his anger, Nicole withdrew her probing gaze and repeatedly reassured him, "Let's go and check on houses!"

However, they failed to leave.

I saw that there were a lot of reporters gathered at the door, even more than last time.

As soon as they spotted Nicole, they swarmed around the car, bombarding her with questions.

"Mrs. Deleon, is it true that Mr. Deleon was found dead in an escape room store?"

Nicole froze for a moment, then raised her voice and cursed, "You journalists! Do you have any sense of morality? Now you lie and curse my husband, don't you?

"What's in it for you?"

The reporters looked at each other in surprise, not anticipating such a reaction from her.

The leading reporter took out a photo of my dead body lying in the morgue and held it up in front of Nicole.

"We have received confirmation from the hospital that he died of a heart attack. As his wife, shouldn't you be aware of this?"